PHYS416-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025

Quantum Field Theory

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 28 September 2025

Description

Quantum Field Theory

Quantum Field Theory (QFT) unifies quantum mechanics with special relativity to describe particles and their interactions with unrivalled precision. It underlies particle physics and has important applications in condensed-matter theory and cosmology.  QFT provides natural tools for modelling many-body systems and for processes that create or annihilate particles.

The course opens with integer-spin bosonic fields, focusing on spin-0 and spin-1 cases. We then extend the formalism to spin-½ fermions, analysing the Dirac equation and its electromagnetic coupling. As a concrete example, we derive the cross-section for electron-positron annihilation into a muon and an anti-muon.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of Department.

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 16:00 - 17:00 Psychology - Sociology 252 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 11:00 - 12:00 Ernest Rutherford 460
14 Jul - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 19 Oct
Tutorial A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 10:00 - 11:00 Jack Erskine 239
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 12 Oct
Tutorial B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Friday 11:00 - 12:00 Jack Erskine 241
13 Oct - 19 Oct

Examinations, Quizzes and Formal Tests

Test A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 11:00 - 12:00 Ernest Rutherford 460
8 Sep - 14 Sep

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Chris Gordon

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Problem Sets 10%
EXAM 50%
Test 30%
Tutorial Participation 10%

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,213.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Physical & Chemical Sciences on the departments and faculties page .

All PHYS416 Occurrences

  • PHYS416-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025
Previous year Next year